Augusta: William F. Brand to Amanda C. Armentrout,
April 7, 1863
Summary:
William writes to Kate of his long illness, his desire for a furlough, and his
father's illness.
April 7th 1863
At Home
Dear Friend
Truly time has seen many days pass & your letter remained unanswered, I
have procrastinated until I am ashamed to seat my self to write even to
the kindest of friends. One request I will ask of you that is to forgive
& forget, I intended writing before I left camp. But after I had a
chance for a furlough I thought I would wait Until I
got home & then I might come down, But alas it seems that I can never
get away from home, I have had very bad health ever since I came home. Some days
I suffer with chills & fevers with violent headache & pains in my limbs. Father is very ill with the
mumps, though I think he is getting better, It will be my time to have them
next, as I never had them, I have had chances to have taken them before, probably I may miss them this time, I won't care if I were so
fortunate.
[page 2]
Well I reckon you think, "What have I been doing towards
enjoying myself" since I came home, The blues have been my most constant
companion I declare I never was as lonesome in my
life Time seems to stand still on her wheels, Tom is busy plowing so if I wanted to go anywhere I
have no horse to ride. I formed a slight acquaintance
with your friend Fannie Seems to be a very nice girl, Kind I think would make a
noble coquette, But you must not tell her that I ever
thought such a thing, well you know that it is natural for self willed man to
form an opinion of the fairer sex on first sight. Well I
do not know what to write to interest you I promised to answer the questions that I asked in my
last letter in reference to your Cousin Lizzie, But I will wait hoping that I
may see you before long. Then I can answer you verbally, I know that I can satisfy you in
that way better than by writing I suppose you have already form some idea of my
reason for asking you.
[page 3]
I hope that I may soon get my health &
be able to help work some on the farm as we will be late with the spring crop I
suppose you were surprised to hear of me coming home as
you wrote that I won't come home for six months, [deleted: Thare] if I could get a furlough. Therefore
don't suppose you are very anxious to see me, But for my part I never was as anxious to see you in my life Though you may think my actions do not
prove it, Well you must recollect my health
& more I have no way of getting about, Despair not I will be down ere long, And then my
long absence will make it a happier meeting, Often you
are by my side in my nightly dreams them it seems that
I am happy, But I wake up & find it all delusion I must bring this uninteresting letter to a close I hope this may
find you enjoying your usual good health if I have written anything in this
letter to mar your feeling your pardon I crave
From your attached friend
Willie
